"Zelda... Hey, Zelda... It's time to get up..."
With a groan, Zelda turned over in her sheets, ignoring the sunlight streaming through the windows next to the bed. Though her eyes were still closed, she knew he sat beside her, chuckling when she didn't respond to his call to rise.
"Come on, Zelda," the familiar voice called again. "I know you don't want to sleep in."
"I'm not that predictable, Link..." Zelda replied, still remaining comfortable with her head upon the pillow. "Sleeping in occasionally isn't so bad. I don't believe I have work today..."
With a yawn, she snuggled deeper into the sheets.
"Besides, I missed this," she said tiredly. "It feels like we haven't done this in so long..."
At this, Link chuckled.
"Really? Well, I'm here now," he said, "and as adorable as you are when you sleep, I know you'll be frustrated later on if you sleep in any longer."
Zelda groaned again, prompting her lover to place a hand on her shoulder.
"Come on, Zel... It's time to rise," he said calmly.
Gently, he tugged, coaxing her to turn her body toward him. Finally, Zelda began to open her eyes, her vision blurry from the morning light shining upon her. She could just barely make out the dark wooden beams on the ceiling of their home, the window beside their bed, and of course, the Hylian leaning over her.
"Must we get up?" she asked groggily.
"We must," Link said. "You've got plans today."
"No I don't..." Zelda moaned. "I just told you I don't have work."
"Maybe not work, but you said you have things to do," Link said. "This is why you shouldn't stay up all night planning, Princess."
"Princess...?" Zelda repeated.
"Yes, Princess, that's you," Link said again. "Come on! Rise and shine!"
With another gentle shake of her shoulder, Zelda rubbed her eyes before the world focused in. Instead of meeting Link's bright azure eyes, she found a pair of brown ones looking down at her.
"Come on, Princess!" Celessa said cheerfully. "There we go! Now you're awake!"
Surprised, Zelda bolted up from the bed, causing the sheets to tumble down her torso as she looked around to see where she was. The wooden beams she had seen were not from her house in Hateno, but the ship-shaped Lurelin inn they had checked into late in the evening the night before. Blinking, she looked over to Celessa again, who was still smiling brightly at her.
"Are you alright, Princess?" the pilgrim asked. "I know you just woke up, but you still seem a bit out of it?"
"What? Oh, no, I..." Zelda hesitated. Frowning, she looked down at the bed, her eyes focusing on the empty space next to her, a space that had been occupied by her lover a month ago. "I just had a nostalgic dream, is all. At least, it was sort of a dream."
"It must have been a nice one if you were so set on staying in bed," Celessa teased. "I wish I could've let you sleep in more, but last night you insisted I wake you up while it was still early."
"I did, didn't I?" Zelda asked, looking out through the blinds over a window of the inn. Her eyes landed on the ocean water beside Lurelin Village, the waves breaking upon the sandy beach the houses were built on. "We have a lot to prepare for, and we're behind schedule..."
"I guess that's my fault, huh?" Celessa chuckled guiltily as Zelda pushed the sheets off the rest of her body. "I did talk you into taking it easy at the beginning of our journey, and now we're behind, just like you said we would be. Sorry."
"No, please, Celessa, don't apologize," Zelda replied as she began putting her boots on. "It was your suggestion to slow down that allowed us to succeed. We made far more progress than we would have had we sprinted our way through our meetings like I had initially planned. If anything, you made all of this happen, and I thank you for it. You and Paya both."
"Well, I mean, if you're just gonna praise me like that, then I guess I must accept," Celessa giggled. "Oh, and you might as well leave your boots off. It's easier to walk in the sand barefoot or with sandals."
"Hm, I guess you're right," Zelda said, thinking back to the last time they were on the Lurelin shore. "It was easier to go without them last time. Well then, I don't have sandals, so I guess we're leaving like this. Shall we?"
Celessa nodded, and after giving a smile in return, Zelda picked herself up from the bed, allowing the pilgrim to guide her toward the entrance. After a small wave to the innkeeper, the two exited the ship, the brightness of the sun glinting upon the ocean temporarily blinding them. Using her hand to shield her eyes, Zelda let her vision adjust before looking around.
The beachside village looked just as it did when she had seen it a month ago. The echo of seagulls crying and the constant crashing of waves upon the sand reached her ears. A salty breeze blew through the large leaves of the tall palm trees, gently ruffling her golden hair and flickering the flames of the torches beside the other small huts scattered around the beach. Just as before, it was a beautiful sight to behold, and its beauty was only enhanced by the peaceful fisherman working around the village–some pushing rafts into the sea, others fishing, and the rest either cooking fish or dealing with any child who was scampering around in the sand.
"I don't think I could ever get tired of this view," Celessa said, while looking around the beach with a cheerful smile, also shielding her eyes from the sun with her fingers.
"I agree. It is a wonderful sight," Zelda replied. "Hm... Where are Paya and Traysi?"
"Well, Paya's right over there where the goddess statue is," Celessa answered, pointing toward a ledge where Zelda knew the statue resided. "And Traysi, who knows honestly. She's probably out there interviewing people regarding the festival. You know how she is."
"I do," Zelda sighed.
They began walking, the soles of their bare feet slightly sinking into the warm sand, gently massaging with each step, until they arrived at the statue's location. Leaning over the ledge she found Paya kneeling, her hands clasped in front of her in prayer before the statue, just as Celessa had declared.
"Good morning, Paya," Zelda said softly so as not to startle the Sheikah woman. "Are you prepared for the day?"
"Good morning, Princess, and yes, I am," Paya replied quietly without opening her eyes. "I do have more prayer to do beforehand, if that's alright."
"Of course. We'll come find you later," Zelda offered.
When Paya nodded in reply, the princess stood and turned to Celessa, who had followed her. In silent agreement, the two began to walk along the shoreline in companionable silence, the occasional wave breaking across their ankles, as the ocean sparkled in the morning sun. It wasn't long before they came upon one of the hardworking fishermen in the village, currently preparing an old but sturdy-looking canoe. Noticing their arrival, the fisherman paused his work on the ropes he was fiddling with and gave a bright smile.
"Well, if it isn't Princess Zelda and her friend!" the dark-skinned man said excitedly. "It's good to see you both! I thought I saw someone new runnin' around here and figured you might have returned!"
"Someone new? That must've been Traysi," Zelda determined. "How are you fairing this fine morning, Armes?"
"Well, would you look at that? The princess remembers my name!" the fisherman said happily. "I'm doing pretty well, and I thank you for asking. We villagers have been hard at work this past month making sure we have enough fish for the celebration you have planned!"
"That's wonderful to hear. I hope it wasn't too hard on you," Zelda said, yet the man rapidly shook his head.
"Not at all!" he assured her. "Fishing is what we live for here! This is the most we've had to do in years! I'm about to head out into the water to try and get a good catch. You know, if you're interested in fishing, you're welcome to come along!"
"Oh, fishing could be fun!" Celessa chimed in, causing Zelda to giggle.
"Maybe next time. I am curious to see how it's done, but I have a few important things on my agenda I need to attend to," the princess replied. "I'm sure I'll be taking you up on that offer at some point, though."
"The boat's ready for you at any time!" Armes exclaimed. "Though, I'd recommend the early morning if you wanna catch anyone willing to take you out to sea. The best time to fish is in the early hours of the day! Well, I better get to it; every minute counts! You have a wonderful stay, Princess!"
"Thank you, and I wish you the best of luck on your fishing duties," Zelda said with a light bow.
After bringing a couple of fingers to his forehead in farewell, the fisherman gave a mighty push, sending the canoe floating out to sea. Splashing through the water, Armes jumped into the boat, lifted the oar from where it rested, and began to row out to sea.
"Hey, are you doing okay?" Celessa suddenly asked as the two watched the boat seemingly shrink the further out the fisherman rowed.
"Hm? What makes you ask?" Zelda questioned, resuming her walk along the shore.
"You seem pretty...princessy, right now," Celessa said, jogging for a moment to catch up with her. "You usually get a little proper when you're going through the motions."
"Do you really watch me that closely?" Zelda asked with a giggle.
"No! Maybe...you're still my hero, you know! Friend or not," Celessa said. "But, even if you weren't, we've spent enough time together at the inn for me to know when you're being proper and when you're relaxed."
"Well, I appreciate the concern, but I'm actively being a little more aware of my manners now," Zelda explained. "This isn't like the inn where I could be relaxed with the guests. It was a far more informal environment; one Prima crafted to be welcoming and fun, while also being professional. While it worked there, and it was enjoyable, if I'm to be guiding these people to a better future, I need to show I have a little more dignity, wouldn't you say?"
"I suppose, but...still," Celessa insisted. At this, Zelda raised an eyebrow.
"Was there something else you noticed?" she teased, though she was surprised when Celessa gave an actual answer.
"Your mumbling from this morning," the pilgrim replied. "You said a few things in your sleep while I was trying to wake you up. I just wanted to make sure you were...you know...alright."
This caused the princess's cheeks to redden ever so slightly.
"O-oh! Yes, I'm fine," Zelda replied briskly. When she caught Celessa's gaze, however, the blush on her cheeks deepened. "Alright, fine... I'm not sure why I bother trying to hide it from you anymore. I was...dreaming about Link."
The princess watched as a smile slowly spread across the pilgrim's face. In response, Zelda frowned.
"Now I wish I hadn't said anything—"
"No! No, that's adorable! Ah, Princess, you're so in love!" Celessa said, taking Zelda by the arm. "You miss him!"
"I...I do," Zelda admitted. "I miss him very much, and I may still be a tad bit worried about him, but... I can't see him just yet. In fact... I have to postpone our meeting."
"What? Why?" Celessa asked, releasing Zelda's arm. "I know we're behind schedule, but he can still be here while we set up, can't he?"
"Wouldn't that ruin the idea of it being a surprise?" Zelda asked. When Celessa hesitated, she continued. "I have to wait. It's only a week more, and that's nothing compared to how long I've had to wait in the past. It's all to put a smile on his face, just as he's done for me so many times."
"Hm. You're the boss," Celessa said, "or rather, the princess. How are you going to stop him, though? He'd be on his way now, right? Along with the others you've invited?"
"He won't be, actually," Zelda said, reaching to her belt to take the Sheikah Slate off her hip. "I told him to meet me in Kakariko Village in a month's time, which is...today!"
"Today?" Celessa asked. "I knew we were a few days behind, but I hadn't thought a full month had passed quite yet! Um... Okay, that's not too bad right? Won't Lady Impa just send him this way? That gives us around a week for him to get here, right?"
"Link is fast, especially if he's riding on Epona. He'll be here far too quickly," Zelda panicked, now looking around the village. "I only expect some of our guests to arrive today, much less be ready to start preparations! If anything, if he sees I'm not there and Impa simply tells him to get going, he could be here in the next day or two. That's just not enough time!"
"T-then what do we do?" Celessa cried out.
"I... Um..." Zelda said, looking around as the gears in her mind whirled. "I need to go see Impa. It's still early, so Link most likely hasn't made it to her yet. Possibly. Hopefully. Look, I'm going to check, I'll be back as quick as I can."
"A-alright! I'll be here waiting for you. Is there anything I should do while you're gone?" Celessa asked.
"I'm sure those we've invited will start showing up as the day progresses," Zelda said, using her fingers to zoom in on the slate's illuminated screen. "I doubt anyone would show up this early, but keep an eye out nonetheless. Other than that..."
Zelda quickly raised her eyes, looking around the beach one last time before spotting something in the distance.
"Tell Traysi to stop harassing the elderly so early in the morning," she said, gesturing toward one of the fishing docks along the shoreline.
With that, she tapped on the slate, and in a string of blue lights, she vanished from the shoreline, leaving Celessa alone in the water. Confused as to what Zelda had asked of her, the pilgrim turned to where the princess had been gesturing, only to find Traysi in the distance, scribbling away in her journal while speaking to a short old man, whom Celessa recognized as the mayor of Lurelin. Sighing, the pilgrim began jogging through the sand and water to put an end to Traysi's barrage of early-morning questions.
...
In a flash of blue, Zelda formed on the teleportation platform of the shrine facing the cliffside view of the village hidden in the mountains; its waterfalls calmly cascading down the mountainsides, its cuccos still waddling around free, and the smell of freshly-cooked vegetables still in the breezy air. Though it was a beautiful and nostalgic sight, Zelda only admired it for a moment before quickly jumping down off the platform, landing on the dirt pathway leading to the shrine.
"Ah! Right, I don't have my boots on...oh well. It's a minor inconvenience," Zelda murmured.
With a pep in her step, ignoring the dirt beneath her feet, the princess jogged down the winding mountain path and entered the village below. As she hurried through, the white-haired residents greeted her as she passed, waving or giving a slight bow of the head. The only thing that stopped her from her trek to her destination was the sound of children calling her name.
"Princess Zelda! Princess Zelda!" two girls' voices cried. Zelda looked around before noticing two little Sheikah girls running toward her.
"Cottla and Koko! Hello there, you two," Zelda said, crouching down to greet the two girls. "How are you both today?"
"Good!" Koko said excitedly. "Is Link with you? Is he back yet?"
"He's not with me; not yet at least," Zelda said. "But, he should be in Kakariko soon. Has he not arrived yet?"
"I haven't seen him! Is he playing hide-and-seek?" Cottla asked, now looking around to see if she could spot a hiding Hylian. Hearing this, a wave of relief washed over Zelda's body.
"Good, it sounds like I've beaten him here," she said. "I'm sorry, little ones, but I have to go. I must speak with Impa before hurrying back to my duties."
"Awwww, okay," the girls whined in unison. "Does that mean Link is coming though?"
"It does, so I want you two to keep an eye out, alright?" Zelda said. "When you see him, tell him to go right to Impa's house. Then you'll be able to play with him, alright?"
"Yay!" the two children cheered. Giggling, Zelda moved to head toward the elder's home, yet she was stopped again by one of the girl's calls.
"Wait, before you go, is Miss Paya here?" Koko asked. "We haven't seen her!"
"Yeah yeah, is Paya here?" Cottla followed up.
"She's not, but I'll tell her you both said hello when I get back to her, how's that?" Zelda asked. The two girls nodded.
"Thank you, Princess!" they chanted.
With a nod, Zelda stood, leaving the girls behind as she hurried toward the large staircase near the front of the village where two Sheikah men were standing guard.
"Ah, look who it is!" one of the men called, whom Zelda recognized as Cado.
"Princess Zelda!" the second Sheikah, Dorian, said. "I saw you talking with my girls. I hope they weren't bothering you."
"Not at all! They just wanted to know if Link was around and if Paya was with me," Zelda said.
"Those two, always wanting to play with Link," Dorian sighed. "Though, I will say, it is strange Paya isn't here with you. Is everything alright? I hope she hasn't slowed you down at all."
"She hasn't! In fact, she's been most helpful. I'm glad she's come along," Zelda said. "I'll be returning to her and Celessa shortly though, for I don't have much time. Just to make sure, tell me, have you seen Link at all?"
"I haven't. Should we be expecting him?" Dorian asked.
"You should, and soon. I have to speak to Impa before he arrives," Zelda said. "If you'll excuse me—"
"Go right ahead," Cado and Dorian exclaimed, both stepping aside to allow the barefoot princess up the stairs.
The higher up Zelda went, the louder the roar of the waterfalls behind the building became, filling her pointed ears as she reached the landing before the wooden double doors. With a push, Zelda entered the Sheikah elder's home.
"Ah, there she is," the old voice of the elder spoke as the door closed behind her. "It's good to see you, my dear."
"And it's good to see you, Impa," Zelda said, hurrying down the aisle, passing the pillows on the floor. Coming to the end of the room, she stopped before the old, tiny elder, who was sitting on her usual stack of pillows wearing her usual large, ornamental straw hat on her head. "I'm sorry to burst in here once again without warning."
"Oh, it's fine, girl. You know very well I don't mind," Impa said, waving away her worries as she looked the princess up and down. "It seems as though you're having quite the journey, seeing as you came in here without any footwear."
"It's easier to walk on sand without boots, and I ended up coming here in a hurry," Zelda said. "I needed to speak with you before Link arrived."
"Yes, yes, it has been a month already," Impa said. "Tell me, what is it you need from me?"
"Well, Link and I were supposed to meet today, but we're a little behind schedule," the princess explained. "We managed to gain support from the leaders of each race in Hyrule, and they all are attending our event in Lurelin, but the festival itself has yet to be prepared. I need another week, and I was hoping you could inform Link of that. In fact, instead of meeting here, it would be best if he just made his way to Lurelin himself."
"I see. A simple matter," Impa nodded. "I'm sure he wouldn't mind roaming Hyrule for an extra week more."
"I hope not... I miss him so much, and I imagine he must feel the same," Zelda said with a frown. "At least, I'm assuming he does—"
"Now, Princess, you know just as well as I do that boy misses you," Impa said. "I'd argue he may miss you more."
"That would be impressive if he did," Zelda giggled, a smile returning to her lips. "Alright then, I'd better return before he arrives—"
"Now hold on just a moment," Impa called, raising a hand as Zelda tried to turn away. "There you go, always trying to rush off. I have a question for you, dear."
"Hm? What is it?" Zelda asked curiously.
"I'll be able to sense when Link is on his way, and if it's as you say, he may be here soon," Impa explained. "There may be a chance for you to tell him to head to Lurelin yourself."
"To tell him...myself?" Zelda repeated. "I... I hadn't even considered waiting. But... I have so much to do—"
"So much that you wish not to see your beloved?" Impa asked, raising an eyebrow. "If there's a reason you wish not to see him, I won't argue against it, but I can see it in your eyes. You're desperate to see him, are you not?"
"I..." Zelda hesitated. "I do... I want to see him... To hug him... To—"
"Now, I didn't ask for details, my dear," Impa chuckled. "If this is all the case, then why don't you take a moment to breathe? Speak with me for a while; I have much to hear, you know."
"Much to hear?" Zelda asked, to which the elder nodded her head.
"Like how discussions went with the other races," she explained. "How you're feeling, and also how my granddaughter is faring. Place that device back on your hip and take a seat."
Recognizing that there was little room to argue, Zelda sat on one of the pillows on the floor.
"Now, tell me how the meetings went," Impa requested.
"Well, there were a few...a lot...of bumps along the way," Zelda said. "But we managed. You see—"
For the next few minutes, the princess explained to the elder how each encounter went with the leaders of the four races, describing how their journey went, the detours and the fun, along with the trials and tribulations. Quietly Impa listened, taking in every word as Zelda became absorbed in telling her tales, until eventually her story reached its end in Rito Village.
"—and if it hadn't been for Paya, reconstruction might have become a bit complicated later on," Zelda finished, to which Impa smiled.
"And how has my granddaughter in particular been?" Impa asked.
"She's been wonderful," Zelda said with a smile. "She's still very nervous, and she stayed that way throughout our journey, but even when anxious, she still did the best she could. I could tell she was amazed by the places we visited, even though there were some dangers along the way. Even now, she waits in Lurelin Village, ready to help us prepare for the festival. I'm glad you had her come along."
"And I'm grateful you took her," Impa said with a nod. "Finally, how are you feeling, Princess?"
"How am I feeling, you ask?" Zelda murmured. "I miss Link. I miss him so much my heart aches. Despite that—this journey, seeing the people who are willing to stand together united once more, to be out and exploring and making progress, to see the excitement and happiness in the people's eyes... I feel good, Impa. I feel confident."
"Good, good," the elder nodded, the metal ornaments gently swaying on the brim of her hat. "I'm glad. You've grown, Princess. I couldn't be more proud of you."
"Thank you, Impa," Zelda said with a kind smile. "It's thanks to you and many others that I've managed to get this far."
"While they certainly may have helped, you must recognize it was your power as well that has propelled you," Impa said kindly. Suddenly, her old eyes darted up toward the double doors. "I believe it's time, Princess. It seems that indulging in this talk was worth it."
"It's time? He's here?" Zelda asked, twisting her waist to glance back at the double doors behind her.
She quickly stood, eagerly waiting for the double doors to open, a smile creeping onto her face, and yet, it faltered. Surprisingly, she took a step back from the doors.
"Princess?" Impa asked. "What's the matter?"
"I-I..." the princess hesitated. She looked between Impa and the door, her mind racing until finally, she pursed her lips. "I can't see him yet."
"And why is that?" Impa asked. Suddenly, Zelda's pointed ears twitched. She could hear the steps of someone walking up the stairs outside.
"If I see him, I..." she began to explain. "I... I won't be able to say goodbye again. Not so soon. I... I have to go. Do you... Do you think he'll understand?"
"I believe he will," Impa said with a nod. "You'd best hurry. He's about to reach the top."
After a moment of pause, Zelda reached down and pulled the Sheikah Slate off her hip. Brightening the screen with a tap, she looked back at the door one last time as if contemplating staying after all, before turning to the Sheikah elder.
"See you later, Impa. I'll tell you how everything goes," she said, her voice slightly pained.
"I'll be excited to hear it, child," Impa said with a kind smile.
Returning that smile as best as she could, Zelda gave the screen another tap, vanishing in a string of blue lights, just as the front doors of the house were forced open once more.
In a flash of light, Link once more found himself standing before the legendary sword, its purple-winged hilt glistening in the morning sunlight that filtered through the pink canopy of leaves above them. Blinking, he looked around at the familiar forest, taking in the beautiful sight of large trees, yellow lights, and the few Koroks flying around on their spinning leaves. Looking down, he found himself wearing his own Hylian Tunic and trousers, not the ones he had been gifted by the Master Sword during the trials. As he took a deep, relaxed breath, the bark of the large, pink-leafed tree began to creak as its lips moved.
"𝐈 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮'𝐯𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞," the Great Deku Tree spoke. "𝐈 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤, 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤. 𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐟𝐮𝐥, 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞."
"Thanks, Great Deku Tree," Link said with a smile. "It's...really good to see you. More than usual, if that's alright to say."
"𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈'𝐦 𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐝, 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐧'𝐭 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐈'𝐦 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐲 𝐛𝐞," the tree said; yet, after a moment of thought, Link shook his head.
"I'm...not sure," he answered. "I just... I guess I missed you more than I thought. It does feel strange, though. It's like I...like I saw something in the trials and I just can't remember what it was. It's like I had a long dream after completing the trial floors, and now that I'm awake, I just... I can't remember."
"𝐈 𝐬𝐞𝐞... 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠," the Great Deku Tree said with a mighty hum. "𝐈 𝐰𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡... 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥."
"I was? How long has it been?" Link asked.
"𝐀𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐰𝐨 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐬. 𝐈𝐟 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭, 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐚 𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝," the tree said.
"Two weeks? I mean, it felt like I was on those floors forever, but still... Two weeks?" Link asked, again staring at the sword's glistening handle. Though he was curious about what it was the sword was keeping from him, he smiled. "Well, whatever it was, it's helping. I feel... I feel great."
"𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐧𝐨𝐰?" the Great Deku Tree asked.
"I do. It's like... It's like my mind is clear. Clearer than it's ever been," Link explained. "I feel rested, like I've actually had a few days of good sleep. I don't know what the Master Sword did, but... It's helping. She's helping."
"𝐒𝐡𝐞?" the Deku Tree asked.
"The voice in the sword. I feel more connected to her, more than before," Link explained. Lowering himself onto one knee, he whispered. "Thank you."
To his surprise, he received the quietest of chimes in response from the blade, though he was confident he was the only one who heard it. With a grin, he pushed himself back up to his feet.
"𝐈 𝐬𝐞𝐞. 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐭, 𝐈 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫," the Great Deku Tree said. "𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐞𝐭. 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐈'𝐦 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤."
"Thank you, Great Deku Tree," Link said with a nod. "Hm... You said it's been almost two weeks, right?"
"𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐝," the tree hummed in response.
"That means it's almost been a month..." Link said thoughtfully. He looked down at the sword again before nodding. "I feel like I could jump right into the next trial, but I told Zelda I'd meet with her back in Kakariko in a month's time. The final trial will have to wait."
"𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧?" the Great Deku Tree asked. "𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐲𝐞𝐭."
"If it is, then a break from it might do me good. I'm sure Zelda would agree," Link said. "Besides, I told Zelda I would meet her, and I'm going to keep my word. If I go back into the trial now, who knows how long I'll be gone for. Plus...I just really have the urge to see her. Maybe I have the sword to thank for this too, but I really neglected Zelda these past few months and... I just want to hold her again."
"𝐈 𝐬𝐞𝐞. 𝐈𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐧𝐨 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐞," the tree said. "𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐥𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮. 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥, 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞."
With an echoing creak, the tree yawned.
""𝐈 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐈 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐮𝐩 𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐨𝐰𝐧," it said. "𝐅𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥, 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤. 𝐔𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧..."
"See you later, Great Deku Tree. Rest well," Link said while the tree stilled. As the tree grew quiet, the forest children around them grew louder.
"Mr. Hero! Mr. Hero! Shakalaaaa!" a high-pitched voice called, along with a few others calling his name.
"Hey there, Hetsu," Link said as the large Korok came dashing up toward him, the maracas in his hands rattling with the seeds inside their casing. "And Pepp, and Walton, and Chio, and everyone else."
"Mr. Hero, are you leaving the forest?" one of the Koroks asked.
"Yeah, yeah! Are you leaving alreadyyyyyyyy!" the maraca-wielding Korok asked. "You just poofed back to us!"
"Yeah, I'm leaving. Sorry, guys," Link said with a guilty frown.
"Awwww," the Koroks whined, all lowering their heads as Hetsu uttered a sad, "Shoko..."
"Ah, come on. Don't be like that," he continued. "I'll be back. I have another trial to do, but I need to go see Zelda first."
"Zelda? Oh, Miss Princess!" one of the Koroks exclaimed. "She was here before!"
"What?" Link asked in surprise. "She was here?"
"Yeah, yeah!" they chanted. "She wanted to wish you good luck, but you vanished before she could!"
"W-why didn't you all say anything when I returned last time?" Link asked, yet the forest children shrugged.
"You never asked!"
"I... Ugh," Link sighed before chuckling. "You're right. I never asked. Well, I'm going to go see Miss Princess, and then I'll be back. I promise."
"Are you and Miss Princess gonna go make babies?" one of the Koroks asked. At this, Link's face reverted to its expressionless state.
"How do you all know about that?" he asked, to which the children giggled.
"Babies are made after you guys kiss, right?" one of the Koroks asked. "That's what the Great Deku Tree said!"
"That's...right. Yeah, that," Link said. "I dunno, babies might be a bit too soon... A lot too soon. But, maybe one day."
"One day! One day! Shalaaaa!" Hetsu danced, shaking his maracas excitedly. Link chuckled before placing his hand down on one of the Korok's heads.
"Alright, I gotta get going," he said. "I'll be back. I promise, okay?"
"Okayyyy," the children said. "Will you bring Miss Princess? She promised she'd come back!"
"Yeah, yeah! Bring Miss Princess!" the other children cried out.
"Okay, okay. I'll try and bring Miss Princess," Link laughed, adjusting the sword and shield on his back. Beginning to step through the group of Koroks, Link waved down to them. "Okay. I'll see you all later."
"Bye, Mr. Hero! Bye bye!" the Koroks chanted as Hetsu continued to rhythmically shake his maracas. "Come back soon!"
Link continued to wave back as he followed the path up toward one of the forest's overturned and hollowed-out logs, before disappearing through them. Venturing through a few logs, he eventually found himself walking through the dense fog of the Lost Woods, humming a tune as he walked, not bothering to follow the path. Soon, the fog grew so thick, he couldn't see a thing, only to soon find himself at the entrance of the forest. With a grin, he looked back at the misty woods before turning on his heel, continuing to follow the path out of the forest.
For a few hours he walked, following the winding path as the morning sun beamed down upon him. It had been so long since he had seen the clear blue sky above. Link smiled, reveling in the sun warming his skin as he passed the occasional patch of melting snow. As the sun rose higher in the sky, he eventually found himself walking up to the front desk of the stable he had visited before entering the forest. Standing at the desk, he rang the bell.
"On my way!" he heard the stablemaster call from inside, and after a few seconds, the man appeared behind the counter. "Welcome to the—Woah, Link! You're back!"
"I am. Is there a reason I shouldn't be?" Link asked curiously.
"I–Well, I was told you and another girl went running into the Lost Woods, and—ugh, see, this is why I shouldn't listen to my daughter," the stablemaster said. "Shamae! Shamae! I told you they didn't go into the forest!"
Suddenly, a little girl came dashing out of the stable's tent-like entrance, her eyes growing wide as she skidded to a stop in front of Link.
"You're back! But...But you went into the Lost Woods! I saw you go up there!" she said.
"I told you, Shamae, he didn't go into the Lost Woods," the stablemaster said. "If he had, he wouldn't be here."
"I actually did go into the Lost Woods," Link said calmly with a smile. "You can actually escape the woods if you know the secret."
"The secret? There's a secret?" Shamae asked excitedly, to which the stablemaster frowned.
"Link, I like you, but don't go telling my daughter things like that," he said. "I can't have my daughter going into those woods because you said there was a secret. That ain't funny."
"I'm not lying," Link said. "There really is a secret."
"Not funny, Link," the stablemaster said. "I take it you need Epona?"
"That'd be helpful. Thanks, Kish," Link said, deciding it would be best not to irritate him further.
With a nod, the stablemaster disappeared to retrieve the white-maned horse. When he was gone, the child tugged on the hem of Link's tunic.
"Is there really a secret to the Lost Woods?" Shamae asked.
"He's telling the truth," another voice suddenly said. Looking over, both Shamae and Link saw a much older man walking out of the stable, wearing the same uniform as the stablemaster and kid. "There's always been a rumor about a secret to the Lost Woods, but to hear that someone knows of it as fact is impressive. Are you sure you aren't pulling our legs, young man? I don't need you lying to my granddaughter."
"I'm not, but your father is right," Link said to the child. "I can't have you going and trying the trick out, just in case you do it wrong."
"That's okay! I don't wanna get lost in the forest. I'm more interested in the sky!" the little girl cheered, causing Link and the old man to chuckle.
"I got Epona right here for ya, Link," the voice of the stablemaster said. Link turned to find the man guiding Epona by the reins toward them, who neighed and shook her mane the moment she spotted Link.
"Hey, girl," Link said, taking the reins from the stablemaster. "It's been a little while, I know. I'm here now. I'll make sure you get lots of exercise these next couple of days."
Rubbing her muzzle, Link turned to the stablemaster.
"Thank you for watching over her for so long. I really appreciate it," he said.
"Anytime. Just stop that Lost Woods talk," he said.
With a smile, Link placed a foot into the stirrup and effortlessly swung himself into the saddle. After waving to the family, Link gently tugged on Epona's reins, and with a light tap of his heel against her side, the mare trotted off down the road before breaking into a gallop.
...
Over the course of the next few days, Link rode through the fields of Hyrule, stopping at the occasional stable during the night. It felt wonderful to ride again; the breeze blowing past his face and ruffling his bangs, his clothing rippling, the light bounce of his body in time with Epona's stride. Soon, he found himself riding alongside the edge of Hyrule Field's borders, heading toward the two peaks that were once one.
Still galloping, he crossed a bridge over a roaring river, then followed the river through the ravine. After exiting the ravine, he turned down a fork in the road, waving as he passed the Dueling Peaks Stable, and then headed toward the next mountain. Crossing another dilapidated stone bridge, they continued up the mountain path, a smile of anticipation on Link's face.
Today was the day. It had been exactly one month since he and Zelda had gone their separate ways back in Hateno Village. He wanted to see her. To hug her. To kiss her. He wondered what it was she had to give him, for he remembered the entire reason she had gone on her journey with Celessa was not only to begin reconstruction of the kingdom, but to do something for him as well, whatever it was that may be.
With the thought floating around his mind, he continued up the mountain, watching as wooden archways came into view, along with the crisscrossing rope keeping a few red-painted, wooden-planked wind chimes suspended above the entrance. Riding underneath the decor, he tugged slightly on Epona's reins, slowing her to a trot as they entered the village. Taking a deep breath of air, he smiled as he followed the village path, admiring the scenery of the compact village.
Villagers waved as he passed, all of them happy to see him doing well. Waving back, he urged Epona on before coming to a stop the moment two particular girls caught his eye, both of them running toward him.
"Link!" they called. "You're here! You're here!"
"I sure am," Link chuckled. "Hey there, you two. You're acting as if you knew I was coming. Tell me, is Zelda here?"
"She is! She said you'd come by!" Koko said.
"Yeah, yeah! She said you'd play with us!" Cottla exclaimed.
"But, only after you went to see Lady Impa!" Koko corrected. At this, Link smiled.
"Then I guess I should head over there, shouldn't I?" he asked. "The sooner I see Impa, the sooner I can play with you two."
"Yeah! Go, go!" the two children chanted. With a nod, Link tapped Epona's side, yet as he passed the children, his smile faltered.
She promised the children I'd play with them after I saw Impa? he thought. Is she...not here?
Confused, he rode the mare through the rest of the village, before again bringing her to a stop, this time in front of the two Sheikah guards stationed in front of the large staircase.
"Link! It's good to see you!" Dorian called as Link slid off the saddle. "Especially since it looks as though you're doing well!"
"Dorian, hey," Link said quickly. "Is Zelda up there?"
"She went up not too long ago," Dorian replied.
"And we haven't seen her come back down," Cado added. "She may still be up there."
"Great, thanks," Link said, hurrying past them. He began to jog up the stairs, yet Dorian called out to him.
"Now, Link," he said sternly. "I understand your wish to see the princess, but show at least a little respect for Lady Impa. Walk, and don't go barging into the house. I know you have a tendency to do that. If Zelda's there, then she's there."
"R-right... Sorry," Link said sheepishly.
Again, he began making his way up the stairs, this time walking. Each step was agonizing. He wanted to just get to the top; to open the doors and finally see the bright green eyes of his lover. Finally, he reached the top, stepped onto the balcony, and pushed open the red double doors.
Inside the elder's house, the only person he saw was the elder herself.
"Link," Impa spoke. "Welcome back. It's good to see you."
"Impa..." Link replied, stepping into the room as the doors closed behind him. He looked around, scanning the rest of the room, before frowning. "She isn't here, is she?"
"No, she is not," Impa replied. "Come here."
The small, old lady gestured toward herself, which Link obeyed. He stepped down the aisle, stopping just before the elder. With him directly in front of her, she reached her wrinkled hands out, grabbed him by the chin, and began moving his head to each side as she inspected him.
"Your cheeks are full... Your skin has color..." she murmured, "and your eyes have life to them. You're well rested. It's quite surprising to see you doing so well after all I've heard."
"I'm sure you haven't heard great things, huh?" Link asked.
"I've heard that a young couple made a few mistakes, all of which surround young love and other dangers they shouldn't have to live with," Impa smiled. "I'm glad you're doing well, Link. I'm sorry the princess isn't here to greet you herself."
"It's alright," Link said quietly with a smile. "She had a good reason, didn't she?"
"A good reason," Impa nodded. "She needs more time, and not from you. There's something special in the works for you—a surprise—and she's at the forefront of it. However, she needs more time to prepare, and if she had seen you, well—"
"She wouldn't have been able to bring herself to leave," Link chuckled. "That makes sense. How long does she need?"
"A week at most, from what I understand," Impa said. "I believe you'll be quite happy with what she has planned. She's putting everything she has into it."
"I'm sure she is. Thank you for telling me, Impa," Link said. The elder nodded.
"Now, while I have you here, you and I have much to discuss," she said. "I'm sure you know of the princess's other plans?"
"She wants to rebuild," Link said. "Is that going well?"
"It is, surprisingly so," Impa answered. " I had faith in her, but she exceeded even my expectations. I'm sure this is a superfluous question, but I must ask: do you plan to stay by her side as she takes the throne once more?"
"Absolutely," Link answered immediately. "Without a doubt."
"A knight through and through," the elder chuckled. "Then tell me... What is it the Master Sword has shown you?"
"That...is a question," Link chuckled, taking a seat on one of the floor pillows. "It's a lot..."
For the next few minutes, Link recounted what the Great Deku Tree had explained to him before the trials, and then the trials themselves. He explained the floors, and the monsters, and everything else he had seen; at least, all that he could remember.
"Is that it?" Impa asked. "The sword has you going through combat challenges across a multitude of floors?"
"Yeah, at least... That's what I know," Link said. "I know that's all I remember doing, but it feels like there's more. It's like there's more that happened in there that the sword is keeping from me because I feel good. I feel good; I feel rested. I feel better than I have in months, but no matter how hard I think, it just won't come to me. The Great Deku Tree assumes the sword must have a reason."
"And that is an assumption I agree with," Impa nodded. "We are not meant to understand everything the goddess has planned. All that matters is that you are doing well."
"Right," Link said confidently.
"Now, you said there is a final trial you must take part in?" Impa asked. Link nodded.
"One more set of floors, probably the hardest set," Link said. "I plan to see Zelda before taking those. Last time I was in the trial for weeks, so if I want to make it to this...event she has planned, then that last trial will have to wait."
"And you're sure it's alright to keep the sword waiting?" Impa asked.
"It is. I know," Link said as he picked himself up off the ground. "Trust me."
"Trust you, I do," Impa said. "Now then, what will you do for the rest of this week?"
"Well, today, I'm going to go play with Koko and Cottla. I'm sure Koko has a new cooking dish for me to try out, and Cottla will want to play hide-and-seek," Link said, stretching his body out after sitting on the floor for so long. "Then...maybe I'll wander around a bit, find my way to the Gerudo Desert and to Rito Village. I have some promises to fulfill and some friends I'd like to see."
"I see. Then I'll tell you this," the elder said. "In a week's time, head to Lurelin Village."
"Lurelin?" Link asked. "Is that where Zelda is?"
"It is, and I'm trusting you not to appear early," Impa said sternly. "That girl has something special planned, and it took everything in her being not to stay and see you. I hope you'll respect that."
"You know I will," Link said with a smile. "Head to Lurelin in a week. I can do that."
"Good. If you need me, I am here for you just as always," Impa said.
With a nod from Link, he turned toward the front doors again, but paused when a thought struck him.
"A week from today..." he mumbled. "Wouldn't that be—?"
"—a full year since you awakened from your slumber," Impa finished for him. "The one-hundred and first year since the day the Calamity appeared."
"Then that means..." Link said thoughtfully.
After another moment's pause, he glanced at Impa, who gave him a knowing nod. With a confident smile, he turned back toward the door, only to be stopped one last time by the call of his name.
"And, Link," she said, prompting him to turn around. "Have a wonderful time."
At this, the hero smiled before disappearing through the double doors.
As the sun rose higher in the sky, Celessa, Paya, and Traysi were gathered at the shore, the seagulls calling as they flew overhead. As Traysi and Paya sat in the sand, the water washing over their feet, Celessa paced back and forth, her hands behind her back.
"I could be getting stories right now," Traysi groaned, currently writing in the journal she had open in her hand.
"No," Celessa said simply. "You chose to bother the old man. The old man, Traysi. Really?"
"He's the elder! It's a fishing village!" the reporter said. "Come on, I know they told you already, about how they need to get up super early to catch the best fish? This is normal for them."
"Still," Celessa insisted. The three lapsed into silence for a few seconds before Paya quietly spoke.
"Is the princess okay?" she asked. "W-was it supposed to take this long?"
"I mean, she wanted to be quick, but she never actually said how long she'd be," Celessa said. "Maybe... Maybe your grandmother stopped her so they could talk?"
"That's very possible..." Paya answered. "She may have wanted to see how I was doing and make sure I wasn't causing problems...
"It could be they're talking, though I doubt she'd ask if you were causing problems. Although..." Celessa said thoughtfully. "She could have run into Link."
"Into Link?" Paya repeated.
"If she did, then we may not see her for a while," Celessa said, to which Traysi sighed.
"So we may get even further behind?" the reporter asked. "Wonderful."
"Hey, at least—" Celessa began, turning to confront the reporter's negative attitude, yet before she could finish, someone caught her eye. "Princess!"
At this, both Traysi and Paya twisted in the sand to see Zelda walking toward them.
"Welcome back," Celessa said as the princess came to a stop before them. "How did it go? Did you... Did you run into Link?"
"I almost did, but...I chose not to stay," Zelda said. "We have work to do. I'll see him when everything here is set up as well as it can be, and I'll need all three of you in order to make that happen. Will you all help me with this?"
"Absolutely! Isn't that right you two?" Celessa asked excitedly.
"Y-yes! Of course!" Paya said quickly as she picked herself up from the sand, almost tripping as she rose. Finally all three of them looked at Traysi, who rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, yeah, I know," she said, closing her notebook. "I'll get even more answers and stories if I help. I know the pattern at this point. Count me in."
"Yeah! All right!" Celessa cheered as Zelda smiled.
"Wonderful. Then let us get to work."